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8 Ways to Cover Ugly Light Fixtures

by on Aug 20, 2008

Sure it’s super easy to change light fixtures, but sometimes you just can’t. If your space is really temporary, like a dorm room or a short term let, or even if you don’t have access to switch off the electricity then a refit is out of the question.

Here’s a few ways to deal with oogly light fixtures that won’t lose you your deposit.

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1. Chic Scarf

A student classic that can actually work really well. The old scarf-over-the-lamp trick:

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Of course you’d make sure that the fabric wasn’t touching the (energy saving) light bulb. ’cause you’re smart. Cheers to bhg for the image

2. Ooh La La Lacy

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This is a bit of lace trimming taped in place with masking tape. The effect is really quite pretty when it’s dark too.

3. A chopping Board?

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This is a flexible chopping board from Ikea with a hole poked in it. It completely replaces the glass bit, and it’s all heat resistant too so, bonus. I would have covered up the brass circle bit with electrical tape, maybe in black, maybe in a rectangle shape but we’re run out of electrical tape. Bloomin’ Mondrian

4. Holy Plastic Basket Batman!

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This is a  plastic basket (from the dollar store) with the handles chopped off and a big X shape cut in the base. The Big X shape allows it to be slotted over the light fixture itself. Let me know if you’re all ‘HUH?’ about this one. I have some more pictures.

5. Scandinavian Style

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This is just paper, cut to have a kind of Scandinavian vibe and then taped into place. I got the idea from here.

All those idea’s range between the cheap and the free, If you’ve got a little cash to throw at the problem here are some other options:

6. Tord Boontje $65 = ooooooooooh PRETTY

7. Adagio Light Cover $157

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Wait, $157, really? Well it’s not for sale anymore, so this HAS to be DIY-able… I’m thinking wire coat hangers and fabric… hmmm.

And finally, the big slice of gorgeous that got me thinking about all this in the first place:

8. Caro.Duke’s Umbrella Turned Light Fixture

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So Pretty. SOOO clever.

Looking for more lighting inspiration?

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1 Comments

  1. jasmine

    Actually I like the original square light fixture except for the big round thing in the middle. I think that round part that twists on could be replaced with a smaller piece – all the ones I have seen are very small.